Diplomacy and Statecraft in the Maratha State: A Study of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja's Political Strategy

Abstract This paper examines the diplomacy and statecraft of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja by analysing a range of political actions that reveal his strategic intelligence and administrative vision. Moving beyond a narrow focus on warfare, the study argues that Shivaji’s success in sustaining and consolidating the Maratha state rested as much on diplomatic negotiation, institutional governance, and disciplined political conduct as on military achievement. The paper begins with an analysis of Shivaji Maharaja’s capture of Purandar, highlighting how military success was immediately followed by diplomatic engagement rather than unchecked expansion. The Treaty of Purandar (1665) is examined as a carefully negotiated settlement in which Shivaji accepted selective territorial and fiscal concessions while preserving the institutional core of Swarajya, His conditional cooperation with the Mughal Empire is interpreted as pragmatic accommodation rather than political submission. The study also briefly examines the earlier treaty with Vyankaji Raje as an example of Shivaji’s regional diplomacy, demonstrating his ability to balance loyalty, service, and strategic independence.The paper further analyses Shivaji’s visit to the Mughal imperial court at Agra, interpreting his conduct within the framework of courtly diplomacy and political self-assertion. Rather than viewing the episode solely as a moment of confrontation, it is read as an instance of calculated dignity and negotiation under imperial pressure. Attention is also given to Shivaji’s internal statecraft, particularly the establishment of the Ashta Pradhan Mandal, which institutionalised governance and ensured continuity beyond military campaigns. Episodes reflecting strict enforcement of rules and administrative discipline are examined to demonstrate a governance system grounded in accountability rather than personal authority.The study draws upon Sabhasad Bakhar as the earliest extant Maratha chronicle, critically juxtaposed with the Mughal court perspective of Maasir-i-Alamgiri. These sources are contextualised through the analytical works of Sir Jadunath Sarkar, and M. G Ranade whose assessment of Shivaji’s political intelligence provides a modern historiographical framework. The paper concludes that Shivaji Maharaja’s diplomacy and statecraft were foundational to Maratha sovereignty, functioning alongside military action to sustain and legitimize the emerging state.